| BUILDING ASSETS: A POWERFUL PARENTING APPROACH
*Assets are 40 key building blocks that help youth grow up healthy. The more
assets youth have, the more likely they are to succeed.
*Search Institute has identified eight types of assets that are crucial for
helping young people grow up healthy:
-Supporting and loving your child.
-Empowering your child.
-Setting clear and realistic boundaries and expectations.
-Helping your child use her or his time in meaningful, constructive ways.
-Encouraging your child to develop a commitment to learning.
-Instilling in your child positive values.
-Developing social competencies in your child.
-Encouraging your child to form a positive identity.
ASSETS: HOW DOES YOUR CHILD RATE?
Take this quiz to see how many assets you think your child has. Check each
statement that you feel is true.
__ 1. My child receives high levels of love and support from family members.
__ 2. My child and I communicate positively, and my child is willing to seek
me out for advice and counsel.
__ 3. My child receives support from three or more non-parent adults.
__ 4. My child experiences caring neighbors.
__ 5. My child's school provides a caring,encouraging environment for my
child.
__ 6. I am actively involved in helping my child succeed in school.
__ 7. My child perceives that adults in the community value youth and
children.
__ 8. My child is given useful roles in the community.
__ 9. My child serves in the community one hour or more per week.
__10. My child feels safe at home, at school, and in the neighborhood.
__11. Our family has clear rules and consequences, and monitors our child's
whereabouts.
__12. My child's school provides clear rules and consequences.
__13. Our neighbors take resonsibility for monitoring my child's behavior.
__14. I and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.
__15. My child's best friends model responsible behavior.
__16. I and my child's teachers encourage my child to do well.
__17. My child spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in
music, theater, or other arts.
__18. My child spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or
organizations at school and/or in community organizations.
__19. My child spends one or more hours per week in activities in a religious
institution.
__20. My child is out with friends "with nothing special to do" two or fewer
nights per week.
__21. My child is motivated to do well in school.
__22. My child is actively engaged in learning.
__23. My child does at least one hour of homework every school day.
__24. My child cares about her or his school.
__25. My child reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.
__26. My child places high value on helping other people.
__27. My child places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and
poverty.
__28. My child acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs.
__29. My child tells the truth even when it is not easy.
__30. My child accepts and takes personal responsibility.
__31. My child believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use
alcohol or other drugs.
__32. My child knows how to plan ahead and make choices.
__33. My child has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.
__34. My child has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural,
racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
__35. My child can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.
__36. My child seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.
__37. My child feels he or she has control over "things that happen to her or
him."
__38. My child has a high self-esteem.
__39. My child reports that "her or his life has a purpose."
__40. My child is optimistic about her or his personal future.
***Scoring: Give yourself one point for each "true." Total up the number of
points. This is the number of assets you think your child has.
Now ask your child how he or she would answer.
Note: This checklist is an educational, awareness-raising tool.
It is not intended nor appropriate as a scientific measurement
of developm;ental assets of individuals.
* How many of these developmental assets do American kids have today?
Although they should have at least 31, most have only 18-a start, but not
nearly enough.
* Do you want to know more about the 40 Assets? Contact Ms. Averett, guidance
assistant, in the counseling center.
FINAL WORD..."Assets inoculate young people against a wide range of
risk-taking behavior." -Peter L. Benson, Ph.D., president of
Search Institute.
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